Apparatus for taking the load off an insulator assembly



Nov. l9,- 1963 M. BETHEA, JR 3,111,553

APPARATUS FOR TAKING THE LOAD OFF AN INSULATOR ASSEMBLY Filed May 7, 1962 INVENTOIL I E b Ma/co/m. Bevhea J FH-I-orne gs United States Patent 3,111,553 APPARATUS FOR TAKING THE LOAD OFF AN INSULATOR ASSEMBLY Malcolm Bethea, Jr., P.0. Box 1407, Birmingham 1, Ala. Filed May 7, 1962, Ser. No. 192,881 3 Claims. (Q1. 17440) This invention relates to apparatus for taking the load off an insulator assembly and more particularly to improved means for taking the load off an electrical insulator assembly whereby damaged insulator elements may be replaced.

An object of my invention is to provide means for taking the load off an insulator assembly interposed between a supporting structure and a conductor clamp whereby the conductor clamp is locatedoutw-ardly of the means for removing the load to thus maintain the clamp and conductor connected thereto under tension so that the clamp and the conductor connected thereto do not flop and move to and bro adjacent the insulator assembly being repaired.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for taking the load off an electrical insulator assembly of the character designated which requires a minimum of time and effort for the installation and removal of the apparatus.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for taking the load off an electrical insulator assembly of the character designated which shall be simple of construction, economicalof manufacture and one which may be readily employed with conventional type insulator assemblies.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, it is very difiicult to replace damaged insulator elements in an insulator assembly for the reason that the load must be taken oil? the insulator assembly before the elements can be replaced. Heretofore, it has been the usual practice to remove the load from the insulator assembly by attaching pull assemblies to the conductor outwardly of the conductor clamp whereby the conductor clamp falls freely and moves to and fro adjacent the insulator assembly being repaired. This irregular move ment of the conductor clamp and conductor adjacent the insulator assembly being repaired not only interferes with the repair work, but makes the work very dangerous.

In accordance with my invention, 1 provide an elongated tension member intermediate the insulator assembly and the conductor clamp. A transverse pull bracket is connected to the tension member intermediate the ends thereof whereby upon applying pull to the pull bracket, the load is taken off the insulator assembly at a point inward- -ly of the conductor clamp. Accordingly, the conductor clamp and the conductor attached thereto are maintained under tension whereby they cannot assume a position to interfere with the repair of the insulator assembly.

Apparatus embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away and in Patented Nov. 19, 1963 FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing a further modified form of my invention;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 7; and,

FIG. 9 is a 'fragmental view showing a corona shield mounted on the pull bracket.

section, showing the insulator assembly and my improved means for taking the load off the assembly;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view showing a modified form of my invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

and lateral movement thereof in either direction.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understandng of my invention, I show an electrical insulator assembly indicated generally at 10. The insulator assembly comprises a series of individual insulator elements 11 connected to each other, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. One

end of the string of insulators is connected to a suitable supporting structure 12. The other end of the string of insulators is connected to a rod 13 having a ball-like end portion 14.

The conductor which is supported by the insulator assembly 16 is indicated generally at 16. As shown in FIG. 2, the conductor 16 passes through and is secured to a clamp :17 by the usual retaining bolt 18. The conductor clamp 17 is provided with the usual lugs or ears 19 for operatively connecting the clamp to the insulator assembly 1t).

Interposed between the insulator assembly 10 and the conductor clamp 17 is my improved means for taking the load off the insulator assembly. Detachably connected to the ball-like end 14 of the rod 13 is one end of an elongated tension member 2 1. One end of the tension member '21 is provided with a conventional type socket 22 for receiving the ball-type member 14. The other end of the tension member 21 is pivotally connected to the ears 19 of the conductor clamp 17 by a pivot pin 23.

A stop member or abutment 24 is provided intermediate the ends of the elongated tension member 21, as shown in FIG. 3. Mounted for sliding movement on the elongated tension member 21 is a transverse pull bracket 26. A longitudinally extending recess or groove 27 is provided in the undersurface of the pull bracket 26 for receiving the elongated tension member 21. As shown in FIG. 4, the width of the groove 27 is equal substantially to the width of the tension member 21 whereby the pull bracket 26 is adapted for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the tension member 21. An enlarged recess 28 is provided in the forward end of the transverse pull bracket -26, as shown in FIG. 3, for receiving the stop member 24. The portion of the pull bracket 26 having the recess 28 therein extends below the tension member 21, as shown in FIG. 4, to provide inwardly extending portions 29 which engage the stop member 24 to limit upward movement of the transverse pull bracket 26 when the device is assembled, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

The transverse pull bracket 26 is provided with laterally extending wing members 31. As shown in FIG. 1, the ends of the wing members 31 are pivotally connected to elongated pull members 32 by suitable pivot pins 33-. The other ends of the elongated pull members 32 are connected to suitable means for exciting force on the pull members in a direction to pull the transverse pull bracket 26 toward the supporting structure 1-2, to thereby take the load off the insulator assembly 11 The means to exert force may be in various forms, such as turnbuckles 34.

From the foregoing description, the operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. l4 will be readily understood. Where it is desired to replace an insulator element 11, the transverse pull bracket 26 is inserted over the tension member 21 and is then shifted forwardly and longitudinally thereof to the position shown in FIG. 3 whereby the stop member 24 enters the recess 28. In this position, the stop member 24 not only limits longitudinal movement of the transverse pull bracket 26, but also limits vertical With the transverse pull bracket 26 thus secured to the tension member 21, the elongated pull rods 32 are connected to pull members, such as the turnbuckles 34, whereby the transverse pull bracket 26, together with the tension member 21, are pulled forward to thus take the load off the insulator assembly 10. Preferably, the elongated pull rods 32 are in the form of Fiberglas or other suitable insulation material having the desired strength.

With the load off the insulator assembly 10, the balllike member 14 may be readily removed from the socket 22 whereby the individual insulator element 11 may be readily replaced. It will be noted that as the transverse pull bracket 26 is pulled forward to remove the load from the insulator assembly Ill, the conductor bracket 17 remains under tension whereby it cannot flop freely adjacent the insulator assembly being repaired.

Referring now to FIGS. and 6 of the drawing, I show a modified form of my invention in which an elongated tension Lrnember 21 is detachably connected to a transverse pull bracket 26 A longitudinally extending recess 27* is provided in the under surface of the transverse pull bracket 26 for receiving the tension member 2 1 as described hereinabove. Also, the transverse pull bracket 26 is provided with wing members 31 which are connected to suitable pull members, such as the pull members 32 described hereinabove.

Instead of providing a stop member 24 which completely encircles the tension member 21 the stop member is the form of laterally extending members 24 which project from opposite sides of the tension member 21*. The forward portion of the transverse pull bracket 26 is provided with forwardly projecting members 36 which extend beneath the laterally extending stop members 24 as shown in FIG. 6, to thus limit upward movement of the transverse pull bracket 26 relative to the tension member 21 Accordingly, to assemble the transverse pull bracket 26*, the pull bracket is inserted over the tension member 21* whereby the tension member rides in the longitudinally extending groove 27. Upon moving the transverse pull bracket 26 forward, the forwardly extending members 36 ride under the transverse stop members 24 whereby the transverse pull bracket 26 is held against both longitudinal movement and lateral movement in all directions. Force is exerted on the transverse pull bracket 26* in the same manner as the force is exerted on the pull bracket 26 whereby load is taken off the insulator assembly.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, I show a still further modified form of my invention in which a transverse pull bracket 26 is rigidly connected to an elongated tension member 21*. In FIGS. 7 and 8, I show the transverse pull bracket 26 as being secured to the tension member 21 by a bolt 37 having a retaining nut 38. However, it will be apparent that the transverse pull bracket 26 may be formed integrally with the elongated tension member 21*. Where the transverse pull bracket 26 is permmiently attached to the tension member 21 the elongated pull members 32 are connected to the transverse pull bracket in the manner described hereinabove whereby load is taken off the insulator assembly.

Where the transverse pull bracket is permanently attached to the tension member, a corona shield 39 may be attached to each end thereof, as shown in FIG. 9. That is, when the load is to be taken off the insulator assembly, the corona shields would be removed for attaching the pull members 32.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved means for taking the load off an insulator assembly interposed beween a supporting structure and a conductor clamp. By applying pull at the point inwardly of the conductor clamp 17 instead of applying pull on the other side of the clamp 17 from the insulator assembly 10, the conductor clamp 17 and the conductor 16 connected thereto remain under tension whereby they are not free to flop downwardly and move to and fro adjacent the insulator assembly being repaired. Accordingly, not only does the transverse pu'll bracket take the load off the insulator assembly 10, but at the same time, the conductor clamp and conductor are maintained in position whereby they do not interfere with the replacement of the individual insulators 11. Furthermore, by maintaining the conductor clamp and the conductor under tension, the apparatus may be installed and removed in a minimum of time and with a minimum of effort and with little danger to the workmen.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. Means for taking the load off an insulator assembly interposed between a supporting structure and a conductor clamp which comprises (a) an elongated tension member adapted to be connected at one end to the insulator assembly and adapted to be connected at the other end thereof to the conductor clamp.

(b) a transverse bracket connected intermediate its ends to said tension member intermediate the ends thereof,

(0) elongated pull members connected to the ends of said transverse bracket and adapted to be connected to said supporting structure,

(d) and means to exert force on said pull members in a direction to pull said transverse bracket together with said tension member toward said supporting structure whereby load is taken off the insulator assembly and the conductor clamp is maintained under tension.

2. Means for taking the load off an insulator assembly interposed between a supporting structure and a conductor clamp which comprises,

(a) an elongated tension member adapted to be connected at one end to the insulator assembly and adapted to be connected at the other end thereof to the conductor clamp,

(b) a transverse pull bracket having a groove therein disposed to receive said tension member whereby said transverse bracket is adapted for longitudinal movemen-t relative to said tension member,

(c) a stop member intermediate the ends of said tension member disposed to engage a cooperating recess in said transverse bracket to limit movement thereof relative to said tension member,

(d) elongated pull members connected to the ends of said transverse bracket and adapted to be connected to said supporting structure,

(e) and means to exert force on said pull members in a direction to pull said transverse bracket together with said tension member toward said supporting structure whereby load is taken off the insulator assembly and the conductor clamp is maintained under tension.

3. Means for taking the load off an insulator assembly interposed between a supporting structure and a conductor clamp which comprises,

(a) an elongated tension member adapted to be connected at one end to the insulator assembly and adapted to be connected at the other end thereof to the conductor clamp,

(b) a transverse bracket having a groove therein disposed to receive said tension member whereby said transverse bracket is adapted for longitudinal movement relative to said tension member,

(0) laterally projecting detents carried by said tension member intermediate the ends thereof disposed to engage a portion of said transverse bracket to limit movement of said transverse bracket longitudinally of said tension member,

structure whereby load is taken off the insulator assembly and the conductor clamp is maintained under tension.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,382 Kerstein Mar. 8, 1892 1,940,162 Bodendieck Dec. 19, 1933 2,374,048 Staheli Apr. 17, 1945 2,654,796 Hubbard Oct. 6, 1953 

1. MEANS FOR TAKING THE LOAD OFF AN INSULATOR ASSEMBLY INTERPOSED BETWEEN A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND A CONDUCTOR CLAMP WHICH COMPRISES (A) AN ELONGATED TENSION MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE INSULATOR ASSEMBLY AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED AT THE OTHER END THEREOF TO THE CONDUCTOR CLAMP, (B) A TRANSVERSE BRACKET CONNECTED INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO SAID TENSION MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, (C) ELONGATED PULL MEMBERS CONNECTED TO THE ENDS OF SAID TRANSVERSE BRACKET AND ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, (D) AND MEANS TO EXERT FORCE ON SAID PULL MEMBERS IN A DIRECTION TO PULL SAID TRANSVERSE BRACKET TOGETHER WITH SAID TENSION MEMBER TOWARD SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE WHEREBY LOAD IS TAKEN OFF THE INSULATOR ASSEMBLY AND THE CONDUCTOR CLAMP IS MAINTAINED UNDER TENSION. 